Lowest monthly income while instructing

Highflyinpilot · Post by **Highflyinpilot** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 2:18 pm

Just curious as to what was the lowest income you received in a month while instructing?(that you can remember)

Im just starting the instructor rating and was just curious to see how bad it actually is.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:07 pm

I made less than $500 one crappy January. ('Normal' was about $1200 a month)

As one of the busiest instructors at my school, I generally was booked for 4 flights a day that January, 6 days a week (which turned into sitting at the school every day hoping for the weather to clear) resulting in 15 flights. The rest was made through a few ground briefings and maybe a night or two of ground school. OUCH!

. . · Post by **. .** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:09 pm

$1700 over an 11 month period. People just didn't want to fly after september 11th. I had 3 whole months fit on one page of a 10 line per page logbook. Dark days for sure.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:12 pm

Hmmm... maybe my number was not so "ouch." That was in 2003.

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:14 pm

endless wrote:$1700 over an 11 month period.

Yikes! And I thought my "dark days" making $75-$250 in a very bad week as a photography pilot was bad. I hope things have improved for you and others.

Highflyinpilot · Post by **Highflyinpilot** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:19 pm

Holy sh%t 1700$/11months averages out at about 155 a month, thats ridiculous. Id love to know how you survived that?

I too hope things improved for all of you

. . · Post by **. .** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:56 pm

living at the parents house. It got to the point where I was 20yrs old and back on the alowance system so I could pay for gas to drive 45min to sit at the airport and not fly.

Great times I tell ya!

Miss Mae · Post by **Miss Mae** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 4:51 pm

When I instructed I had a month at the beginning of my employment where I made $800 in one month

..after I was established and had my own student base it wasn't nearly as scary

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 5:43 pm

Highflyinpilot · Post by **Highflyinpilot** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 5:45 pm

Are you being serious RSC? cause if you are thats crazy.

Im taking it not many flight schools offer base pay?

kim_2222 · Post by **kim_2222** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:16 pm

my first month instructing i made 235 bucks... i did pick up from there though

k

ski_bum · Post by **ski_bum** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:49 pm

I think $1200 is a good average number that makes it to the pocket every month, that is once you have a student base down. Highest would be around $1800, lowest so far $800. Thats as a class 4...

Ralliart · Post by **Ralliart** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:49 pm

I once had a two week pay period where pay was $0, I believe the month worked out to a couple hundred. The weather was ass for nearly two weeks straight and all we could do was sit on the ground and stare at the aircraft. I was living with parents and still on interest relief so it was barely doable......nowadays there's no way I could instruct and not receive an acceptable income, too many monthly bills that must be paid.

. . · Post by **. .** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:52 pm

I think my single lowest month was something like $11. So i guess I hammered down about 0.7hrs that month. I was going to frame the check but bought a mickey instead and got drunk.

Brize · Post by **Brize** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:33 pm

Instructing this summer as a Class 4 (3 in Aug), mid was May $778, lowest month was June $414

(I almost cried) and highest was Aug $1324. September be good to me, cause in Nov student loan payments kick in!

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:56 am

Decembre of '04, paycheque was for $5.00.... shopped at home, lived off parent's debit card.

Highflyinpilot · Post by **Highflyinpilot** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:25 pm

So, it is as bad as everyone says

VeRmiLLioN · Post by **VeRmiLLioN** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:49 pm

...you have to start somewhere. At least you are getting paid to fly.

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:06 pm

It's not always bad, my best is $2650.

Phlyer · Post by **Phlyer** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:31 pm

I remeber 'paycheques' of $129. Some months were about $500. When I got a cfi job and a salary it was the best day...

Get a good woman that supports you in these times - if she can stick it out while you instruct, hang on to her.

like2fly · Post by **like2fly** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:05 pm

I remember making $400 one January as a Class 2

water wings · Post by **water wings** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:27 am

Here's to livin' well on very little!!!

No Conflict · Post by **No Conflict** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:26 pm

lowest was 278$ when i started.... as mentioned by someone else, once you have a solid base, it's picks up (a little

)

NC

Flying Latino · Post by **Flying Latino** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:23 pm

Does anyone know what its like to be an Instructor at the Moncton Flight College

170 to xray · Post by **170 to xray** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:40 pm

My instructing years.

First year Class 3/4 $6000 gross for the year.
Second year Class 3 $9000 gross for the year.
Third year Class 2/CFI $12000 gross for the year.